Paperhanger&#39;s knife



March 19, 1940. A. E. JACKSON PAPERHANGERS KNIFE Original Filed May l2, 1957 Patented Mar. 19, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,194,307l PAPERHANGERS KNIFE Adolph E. Jackson, Los Angeles, Calif.

`.Application May 12, 1937, Serial No. 142,924l

Renewed August 21, 1939 s 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a paperhangers knife or paper cutter, and has for its principal object to combine with a conventional paper cutting knife a tape-measure, preferably formed of thin exible metal, and which is normally contained within a housing, and the latter being seated in the rear end of the handle of the knife or paper cutter.

It is necessary, in the hanging of wall paper, vfor the workman to frequently make measurements, and as a convenience and time saver for the workman, I propose to combine a tape-measure with the handle of the knife or paper cutter so that two essential tools utilized in the hanging of paper are combined in one structure.

A further object of my invention is to detachably mount the blade of the knife inthe forward end of the handle in order that the blades, when broken or worn to such an extent as vto render It unt for further service, may be readily detached from the handle which carries the tapemeasure, and a new blade secured thereto.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: y

Fig, l is a side elevational view of a combined paperhangers knife and tape-measure constructed in accordance with my invention, and with a portion of the rearA end of the handle broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, I Il designates a handle that may be formed of wood, composition, or light-weight metal, said handle having a rounded rear end and gradually tapering towards its forward end.

Mounted on the forward end of the handle is a ferrule II, and inserted through said ferrule and imbedded in the lower portion of the handle, is the shank I2 of a blade I3.

In order to detachably secure the blade to the handle, a screw I4 is seated in the lower portion of the handle, and the inner end of said screw passes through an aperture that is formed in the shank I2. Such construction enables a worn or broken blade to be readily removed from the handle and replaced by a new blade.

Formed in the upper rounded portion of the handler I is a diametrically disposed slot or chamber I5, and positioned therein is a housing I6, preferably of metal, that contains a spirally wound tape measure Il, preferably formed of thin exible metal.

This housing I6, and the metal tape associated therewith, are of conventional construction and may be readily obtained in the open market.

Associated with themetal tape and disposed within the housing I6, is a spiral spring that acts to return the metal tape into the housing after it has been withdrawn therefrom.

The width and diameter of the housing I6 are less than the width and diameter of the slot or recess I that is formed in the handle, and when applied to said handle the housing is imbedded in a body I8 of self-hardening plastic material, such as plastic wood, wax or cement, and the exposed portion of the body of material I8 is shaped so as to conform with the shape and curvature of the roundedend of the handle IU.

At the apex of the rounded end of the handle, a slot I9 is formed in the overlying layer of plastic material I8 so as to permit the tape `II. to travel into and out of the imbedded housing I6.

When the plastic material has become set and hard, it forms a portion of the rear end of `the handle and the housing containing the measuring tape is firmly imbedded in the hardened plastic material.

Thus it will be seen that I have combined in a single structure, two tools, namely, a knife and a tape measuring device, and which tools are essential in the work incident to theI hanging of wall paper and the like.

An especially desirable feature of my invention is the mounting of the housing carrying the flexible metal tape entirelyv within the rounded rear end of the knife handle I0, for by such' arrangement the measuring device in no way interferes with the manipulation of the knife while the same is being used to cut Wall paper and the like.

The combination tool is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended;

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form, and construction of the various parts of my improved paperhangers knife may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

The combination with a handle shaped member having a. rounded end inwhich is formed a diametrically disposed slot, of a housing posiface of which body of plastic material is flush with the rounded end of the handle-like member and there being an opening formed in the wall of plastic material that overlies said housing,

which opening registers With the opening in the 5 housing through which the exible tape measure passes while moving into and out of said housing.

ADOLPH E. JACKSON. 

